for the equipment and subsistence of the troops and other necessary expenses of conducting military operations. On this subject Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, the Confederate commander of the "Army of Liberation," said in a letter to General Polk, August 8, 1861: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF LIBERATION, [General POLK.] GENERAL: * * * The Missouri forces are in the most inefficient possible condition. The authorities of the State have no funds, no means of subsisting the forces of the State; they have no regular organization of staff officers; they have no means of subsistence except such as is taken by them from the inhabitants of the country. There is no one authorized to give certificates for these seizures, and if this system of illegal seizures should be kept up, it will turn the feelings of the best friends of the South in the country against our cause. But, independent of this, it will be impossible to keep the Missouri forces in the field; they will disband, and in their present condition I would not blame them for doing so. To obviate this difficulty I have determined to accept any of these troops who will accept service in the Confederate Army for and during the war. Other testimony to the same effect is not lacking. Some relief was, however, provided by the Confederate Congress, which, on August 6, 1861, appropriated $1,000,000 for the purchase of clothing, subsistence, and ammunition for the Missouri troops serving in cooperation with those of the Confederate States. The act by which the appropriation was made is as follows: AN ACT to give aid to the people and State of Missouri. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That to aid the people of the State of Missouri in the effort to maintain, within their own limits, the constitutional liberty which it is the purpose of the Confederate States in the existing war to vindicate, there shall be, and is hereby, appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000 to supply clothing, subsistence, arms, and ammunition to the troops of Missouri who may cooperate with those of the Confederate States during the progress of the existing war; said sum to be expended under the discretion of the President of the Confederate States for the purposes aforesaid. Approved, August 6, 1861. [Ibid., Series I, Vol. LIII, p. 721.] And in the convention entered into between the Confederate States and the State of Missouri, October 31, 1861, quoted in the preceding chapter, it was provided: ART. IV. All expenditures for the prosecution of the existing war incurred by the State of Missouri from and after the date of the signing of this convention shall be met and provided for by the Confederate States. [Ibid., p. 754.] In an act of the Confederate Congress approved January 27, 1862, the secretary of the Confederate treasury was directed to advance to the State of Missouri $1,000,000, to be applied to the payment of the troops in the service of the State prior to their muster into the Confederate service, and in an act approved February 15, 1862, an additional advance of $1,000,000 was authorized for military purposes" not specified. Following are copies of the enactments referred to: AN ACT for the relief of the State of Missouri. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to issue to the State of Missouri, upon the application of the fund commissioners for said State, $1,000,000 in treasury notes, upon the condition that the said State of Missouri deposit with the Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederate States an equal sum in the bonds of the State of Missouri, authorized to be issued under an act of the legislature of said State, entitled "An act to provide for the defense of said State, and for other purposes," which bonds shall be held by the Secretary of the Treasury until the accounts of the State of Missouri for advances made for military purposes are adjusted as Congress may direct. SEC. 2. That upon the final adjustment of the accounts of the State of Missouri against the Confederate States, the sum hereby advanced shall be deducted from the amount found due to said State. SEC. 3. The sum hereby appropriated shall be applied by the State of Missouri to the payment of troops in the service of the said State prior to their muster into the Confederate service. Approved, January 27, 1862. [Ibid., Series IV, Vol. I, p. 882.] AN ACT for the relief of the State of Missouri. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to issue to the State of Missouri, upon the application of the fund commissioners for said State, $1,000,000 in treasury notes, upon the condition that the said State of Missouri deposit with the Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederate States an equal sum in the bonds of the State of Missouri, authorized to be issued under an act of the legislature of said State, entitled "An act to provide for the defense of the State of Missouri, and for other purposes, ," which bonds shall be held by the Secretary of the Treasury until the accounts of the State of Missouri for advances made for military purposes are adjusted as Congress may direct. SEC. 2. That upon the final adjustment of the accounts of the State of Missouri against the Confederate States the sum hereby advanced shall be deducted from the amount found due to said State. Approved, February 15, 1865. [Ibid., p. 939.] In a later act, approved September 23, 1862, heretofore referred to in this paper, provision was made for the payment of officers and enlisted men of the Missouri State Guard who had been called into the service of the Confederate States by military commanders, or by agreement between the authorities of the State and the Confederate States, their pay to be the same that they would have been entitled to receive "if belonging to the Confederate Army." That portion of the act containing this provision is here quoted: AN ACT to provide for the payment of certain claims against the Confederate States in the State of Missouri. * * * * * SEC. 2. All officers and soldiers of the Missouri State Guard, called into the service of the Confederate States by the order of any commanding officer of the Confederate Army, and rendering service to the Confederate States under any agreement made between the authorities of the State of Missouri and those of the Confederate States, shall receive the same pay for the time during which such officers and soldiers may have been in such service as they would have been entitled to receive if belonging to the Confederate Army: Provided, however, That all staff officers belonging to said Missouri State Guard shall only receive for their services the same compensation with staff officers discharging like duties in the Confederate Army. Finally, by an act approved April 16, 1863, provision was made for the payment of members of the Missouri State Guard "after their transfer to the Confederate States," who, for certain reasons, had not received their pay. This act reads as follows: AN ACT for the relief of certain officers and soldiers from the State of Missouri. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the sum of $75,000 be, and is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to pay the officers and men of the Missouri State Guard (after their transfer to the Confederate States) who, from imprisonment, absence, and other accidental causes, have not received their pay, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe. Approved, April 16, 1863. [Ibid., p. 496.] The military force known as the Missouri State Guard was peculiar, if not unparalleled in the history of the civil war, in that it formed the army of a State which was declared by its chief magistrate to be a "sovereign, free, and independent republic," having full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other things which independent States may of right do." and as such independent republic formed an alliance, offensive and defensive, with the Confederate States. That these troops rendered gallant service is abundantly shown by the official reports, and to the testimony already recorded in these pages may be added that of the Confederate Congress in a resolution, approved December 3, 1861, of which the following is a copy: A RESOLUTION of thanks to Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and the officers and soldiers under his command for gallant and meritorious conduct in the present war. Be it resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of the people of the Confederate States are eminently due, and are hereby tendered, to Maj. Gen. Sterling Price and the Missouri army under his command for the gallant conduct they have displayed throughout their service in the present war, and especially for the skill, fortitude, and courage by which they gained the brilliant achievement at Lexington, Mo., resulting, on the 20th day of September last, in the reduction of that town and the surrender of the entire Federal army there employed. Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be commuciated by the President to General Price, and through him to the army then under his command. Approved, December 3, 1861. [Ibid., Series I, Vol. LIII, p. 758.] In the absence of the official returns, the number of men who served in the Missouri State Guard during the period of its service can not be correctly stated, and there are no records on file in the War Department from which the number can be approximated with any degree of accuracy. That the number was large is evident from the documents quoted in this paper and from the number of organizations mentioned in the accompanying schedule, which, in the absence of the muster rolls, has been prepared from such official mention and other data as have been found of record. These schedules show a total of 27 regiments and 3 battalions of cavalry, 10 companies of artillery and 27 regiments and 11 battalions of infantry. At the minimum strength of company organizations and the minimum number of companies to a regiment, as fixed by the State law, these would represent a total of about 17,500 men. But it is reasonable to suppose that some of the companies and regiments were of the maximum strength, and that large numbers of recruits were received to supply losses from the casualties of the service. Considering this in connection with the fact that the schedule. probably does not include all of the organizations actually in existence, it is evident that the numbers of the Missouri State Guard were very much in excess of the possible minimum above given. MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS, CONFEDERATE SERVICE. Although the early efforts of the authorities of the State of Missouri were directed mainly toward the organization of the Missouri State Guard, a military force formed for the service and in defense of the State of Missouri, measures were simultaneously taken having for their object the enlistment of Missouri volunteers for the Confederate service. As early as April 15, 1861, Col. M. Jeff. Thompson of the Missouri militia, subsequently a brigadier-general of the Missouri State Guard, offered to the President of the Confederate States the services of several companies of Missouri volunteers. His offer was made in the following terms: His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, ST. JOSEPH, Mo., April 15, 1861. President of the Confederate States, Montgomery, Ala. SIR: Not knowing the name of your adjutant-general or any other proper person to make the inquiries of which I desire, I have taken the liberty of addressing you direct. I am anxious to know whether the Confederate States desire volunteers from the border States, and if there is any regular arrangement for their reception, or whether it is necessary to have any authority from your government before volunteers should be raised. My object in asking is that, should Missouri refuse to join her Southern sisters, I desire and intend to move South, and I can, if acceptable, bring one, two, or three companies of as good and true men as the Southern sun ever shone on, if I can assure them that their officers will be confirmed and commissioned by your government. Yours, respectfully, * M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Colonel, Inspector Fourth Military District, Missouri Militia. [Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. I, p. 684.] To this letter the Confederate War Department replied, April 29, 1861, advising Colonel Thompson that in the opinion of the department the time was rapidly approaching when, with the concurrence of the governor of Missouri, military assistance might be accepted from that State by the Confederate authorities. It was therefore advised that companies, battalions, and regiments be organized and held in readiness for future service. Following is a copy of the War Department letter: WAR DEPARTMent, ConfederATE STATES OF AMERICA, Col. M. J. THOMPSON, St. Joseph, Mo. Montgomery, April 29, 1861. SIR: Your letter of the 15th of April, addressed to the President, has been referred to this Department, and I am instructed by the Secretary of War to say, in answer to your proposition, that the time is rapidly approaching, in his opinion, when, with the concurrence of the governor of Missouri, military assistance may be accepted from that State by the Confederate States. In view of this gratifying fact, those among you sympathizing with our cause would do well to organize military companies, battalions, and regiments and hold them in readiness for action against our incendiary foe, equally hostile to the entire South. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Ibid., p. 689.] JOHN TYLER, Jr. Three days before this response to Colonel Thompson's offer the Confederate Secretary of War had called upon Governor Jackson for a regiment of infantry for service in Virginia. His letter is as follows: MONTGOMERY, April 26, 1861. Governor C. F. JACKSON, Jefferson City, Mo.: Can you arm and equip one regiment of infantry for service in Virginia, to rendezvous at Richmond? Transportation will be provided by this government. The regiment to elect its own officers, and must enlist for not less than twelve months, unless sooner discharged. [Ibid.] L. P. WALKER. Governor Jackson replied, in effect, that the State of Missouri was yet in union with the Government of the United States; that he had therefore no legal authority to furnish the men desired, and that the State was deficient in arms, but that there were plenty of men ready and willing to march to the defense of the South, and Missouri would put 100,000 men in the field, if required. Following is a copy of his letter: Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Montgomery. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Jefferson City, Mo., May 5, 1861. SIR: Yours of the 26th ultimo, via Louisville, is received. I have no legal authority to furnish the men you desire. Missouri, you know, is yet under the tyranny of Lincoln's Government, so far, at least, as forms go. We are woefully deficient here in arms, and can not furnish them at present; but so far as men are concerned we have plenty of them, ready, willing, and anxious to march at any moment to the defense of the South. Our legislature has just met, and I doubt not will give me all necessary authority over the matter. If you can arm the men they will go whenever wanted, and to any point where they may be most needed. I send this to Memphis by private hand, being afraid to trust our mails or telegraphs. Let me hear from you by the same means. Missouri can and will put 100,000 men in the field if required. We are using every means to arm our people, and until we are better prepared must move cautiously. I write this in confidence. With my prayers for your success, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Ibid., p. 690.] C. F. JACKSON, Governor of Missouri. On the 6th of May Colonel Thompson, of the Missouri militia, again addressed the President, advising him that he was then of the opinion that he and his men would be needed at home. He said: HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MILITARY DISTRICT, MISSOURI VOLUNTEER MILITIA, CAMP C. F. JACKSON, Near St. Joseph, Mo., Monday, May 6, 1861. His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President of the Confederate States, Montgomery, Ala. SIR: Your favor of the 25th ultimo has been received, and I am thankful for your courtesy. I hope, and have reasonable expectations now, that Missouri will soon wheel into line with her Southern sisters, in which case I and my men will be needed here at home. I believe that this portion of Missouri (north of the Missouri |